Another Problem, this time with any RPGmaker

[TheCableGuy]

I can't seam to open RPG Maker. Any RPGmaker. XP, VX, 2000, they all seam to do the same thing. I try to open the editer for their system, it'll open for a few secs and then crash. I'd understand if it were a corrupted file in XP but the same thing is with all RPGmaker programs so I know it's something to do with all of them but I wouldn't know what they all share.

When I do open it, they open with an odd red Border that's not normal and then crash a few secs later, like this.

[sasofrass]

Have you recently changed your display settings? This can sometimes be caused when you are running applications or programs in an incompatible setting.

You could try running the computer in safe mode to see if the problem persists, and if not you could try Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool, Microsoft Security Esentials and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, as this may also be the cause of some sort of malware.

[TheCableGuy]

Well, I haven't changed any of my settings. I had taken a short break from RPGmaker and when I started again, I found it like this.

I restarted in Safe Mode and now when I run it, I get an error message "Failed to Initialize DirectX Audio" which is weird cause i know I haven't changed that.

EDIT: I've tried installing a newer DirectX but it's still doing it. Still crashing in normal mode and giving me the error in safe mode.

[sasofrass]

I actually found this on yahoo answers, it may be of help: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080127114636AAZ8Gen

But this could also mean that the driver for your sound card is either out dated or it's corrupted somehow, perhaps a virus? Find out what soundcard you have and reinstall its driver.

[stripe103]

Do you happen to use Avast? Because the odd red border is a feature of Avast! Antivirus when you put a program to open in the sandbox. Open it normally instead and the red border will disappear at least.

[TheCableGuy]

Heh, actually I've already found that that very same page in my own search and found it was less then helpful.

My "sound card" is an on-board build into my motherboard so it's not independent but I tried reinstalling the drivers for it but then I remembered why I didn't use it (it doesn't allow my to use my USB Headset.)

But What I can't figure out is why it only effects the RPGmaker programs, nothing else and was worked for years until suddenly today it crapped out on me.

EDIT:

Do you happen to use Avast? Because the odd red border is a feature of Avast! Antivirus when you put a program to open in the sandbox. Open it normally instead and the red border will disappear at least.

Thank you. That was what was causing it. Apparently, Avast updated over the weekend and when it came back up, it put all my RPGmaker programs in auto-sand box mode. I rarely ever use Avast so I tend to forget I have it installed at times and didn't even realized when it updated. But why it'd blocked DirectX from Initializing, I can't say.

[stripe103]

It was probably blocking RM to reach any other programs on your computer, including DirectX.

[ForeverZer0]

That's the point of running a program in a sandbox. It doesn't have access to other files on your PC to change them or doing anything else malicious.